Acollins A Jenko , March 29, 1934 — March 09, 2019

A. Collins Jenko, “AI,” passed away. at home in Rockport, with his loving family at his side, on March 9, 2019. He was born on March 29, 1934, the son of Albina and Aloysius Jenko, of Ljubljana, Slovenia.

The family fled their home in Slovenia as the former Yugoslavia became occupied by Italy, Germany and then Tito’s communists. They were separated during and after the war, spending time in displaced persons camps in Italy and Austria. Eventually, they were reunited and sponsored to come to America, settling in Helena, MT, where much of AI’s extended family still lives.

Al returned to Europe for medical school. During this time and after returning to the United States, he worked for the federal government and was a true Cold Warrior. He settled in Rockport where he became a political scientist, earning his Ph.D. from Boston University.

He first taught and was chairman of the political science department at Boston State College and later political science professor and associate dean of continuing education at the University of Massachusetts Boston. He enlightened, inspired and encouraged generations of college students and provided the greatest example of courage in hard- ship for all his family members. Al leaves behind, in addition to his wife, Donna Jenko, four daughters, Suzanne Charland and husband Fred, Carolyn Kimmel and husband Mark, Lorraine Riley and husband Mike, and Andrea McKee and husband Brady; nine beautiful grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

He is pre-deceased by his first wife, Dorothy Anderson Jenko; two brothers and a grandchild. Visiting hours in the Greely Funeral Home, 212 Washington St. Gloucester, will be held TODAY, March 11, 2019 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. His service will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on March 12 at St. Joachim’s Church, Broadway, Rockport, followed by burial in Locust Grove Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Philanthropy Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, 41 Mall Road, Burlington, MA 01805, directed to Department of Radiation Oncology.

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